Collar Disk, US National Army (USNA)

[gunbarrel]

I'm not sure I'm saying this right, but what does "NUAS" stand for on this button? It's from eBay item #320190712174.

Thanks!

[KurtA]

I'm not sure I'm saying this right, but what does "NUAS" stand for on this button? It's from eBay item #320190712174.

Thanks!

That's USNA - US National Army. Kind of like a National Guard thing. I'm sure someone can explain better. It's a very common disk if you're figuring that into your bidding strategy.

Kurt

[gunbarrel]

Thanks, Kurt! No, no plans to buy the tunic. Just curious and learning.

[cwnorma]

That's USNA - US National Army. Kind of like a National Guard thing. I'm sure someone can explain better. It's a very common disk if you're figuring that into your bidding strategy.

Kurt

 

The Defense Act of 1915 described three "branches" of the US Army. The "Regular" Army made up of full time soldiers, the National Guard which was constituted of State Guardsmen when federalized, and the National Army which would be made up of draftees. This same legislation authorized the US Reserve.

 

Each of these organizations were to wear collar disks indicating what "branch" of the Army they were drawn from as follows:

 

Regular Army: U.S.

National Guard: USNG (in monogram)

National Army: USNA (in monogram)

Reserve: USR (in monogram)

 

In 1917, the uniform regulations eliminated the monograms, replacing them with US and a small superimposed box with either NA, NG, or R.

 

By 1918, the Army had realized that managing three separate "Armies" was wasteful, and eliminated the National Army, and National Guard as separate "branches" of the Army. Although the National Guard, and Reserve continued to exist as separate organizations, they ceased wearing distinctive insignia and wore the same insignia as all other members of the "Army."

 

However, due mostly to supply issues, many soldiers continued to wear USNA, USNG, USR, and in some cases even State collar disks throughout the war.

 

Chris

[GIl Sanow]

That's USNA - US National Army. Kind of like a National Guard thing. I'm sure someone can explain better. It's a very common disk if you're figuring that into your bidding strategy.

Kurt

 

US disck were initially worn by the Regular Army. Many states had their own patterns, but during the early part of WW1, Nat'l Guard troops wore USNG -- US Nat'l Guard -- in several styles. The Nat'l Army were those men drafted to serve. Regs by the end of the war stated that only US's were authorized for ALL, but clearly many men never changed, so USNG and USNA were still worn.

 

I would expect to see NG disks on 26th-48th Divisions, and USNA on the higher numbers. I am not sure what would have been on some stateside units that never went over -- I think the infantry regiments were RA, but I am not sure about the otehr branches.

 

G

[gunbarrel]

Very interesting and totally new to me. Thank you, very much, for posting this information!